Spike setter



Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tibia? INVENTOR.gHARLEs E. GODFREY Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY SPIKE SETTER 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1958 INVENTOR. CYHARLES E. GODFREY 4&0 M

Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 37 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. GODFREY Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 SheetsSheet 4 my my I A? @Jm 5/ 7/6?/ 77 54 54 ea 54 4 f 9 a mom A\R M afia/14 1 1O 53 J F TANK 5| MAN 22MAIR Tf\NK 5| /47 U2 MAN INVENTOR. CHARLES E. GODFREY FL H1 5- Nov. 28,1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 |||||l IN T lINVENTOR. g HARLES E. GODFREY Mada! M FL-H 1 5.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 SPIKE SETTER C. E. GODFREY Nov. 28, 1961 Filed July 25,1958 INVENT OR.

C HARLES E. GODFREY United States Patent 3,010,408 SPIKE SETIER CharlesE. Godfrey, Lombard, Ill., assignor to American Brake Shoe Company, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 25, 1958, Ser. No.750,988 8 Claims. (Cl. 104-17) This invention relates to a spike setterfor use in the construction of railway trackage and more particularly toa spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like in the course of laying a railway track.

One of the most difficult and continuing problems in the field ofrailway maintenance relates to the elficient and economical laying oftrack, whether in the case of new track or in the case of re-laid track.A number of different spike driving machines for driving the spikeswhich anchor the rails to the ties have been proposed. Particularlyefficient and effective spike driving machines, adapted to drive spikeson both sides of a rail, are described in the co-pending applications ofCharles E. Godfrey and Wesley T. Johnson, Ser. No. 509,297 filed May 18,1955, and Ser. No. 602,688 filed August 2, 1956, now Patent No.2,910,010 and in the co-pending application of Charles E. Godfrey, Ser.No. 611,470 filed September 24, 1956, now Patent No. 2,884,867. Each ofthese machines, like others which have also been proposed for thispurpose, is intended to carry out a complete spike driving operation.That is, the machine starts with a loose spike which is not yet embeddedto any extent in the tie, aligns the spike vertically with respect tothe rail, and also with respect to the underlying tie plate and tie, anddrives the spike completely into the tie.

Although the spike driving machines disclosed in the aforementionedco-pending applications of Godfrey and Johnson are highly elficient andeffective, as compared with previously known devices, they arenevertheless subject to some difficulties insofar as speed of operationin aligning the spikes is concerned. Thus, with these machines, it isnecessary to align the spikes in a vertical direction and subsequentlyto complete a spike driving operation in its entirety before going on tothe next tie. Because the aligning and driving operations are combinedin a single machine, careless or hurried operation by the machineoperator may in some instances lead to the driving of spikes at anundesired angle from the vertical. When this occurs, the rail is not assecurely anchored as it should be and further maintenance work on therailway may be required at an earlier date than desirable.

The spike setter of the present invention effectively overcomes thesedifficulties by separating the alignment aspect of the rail-layingoperation from the spike driving aspect thereof. This is accomplished byaffording a separate and independent machine which effectively andautomatically aligns the spikes with the tie plates and the rails andwhich set those spikes in vertically aligned position by driving thespikes a short distance into the ties. The machine does not, however,drive the spikes deeply into the tie. Rather, the driving operation iscarried out by a second and independent machine, preferably one of thespike driving devices disclosed in the aforementioned applications ofGodfrey and Johnson.

Certain spike driving machines known in the art have includedarrangements for automatically feeding spikes or similar fasteningdevices from a magazine, carried by the spike driver, into the spikereceiving apertures in the tie plates of the railway. Arrangements ofthis kind,

however, have not been particularly effective because of 3 tion may beachieved where the spikes are originally dis- 3,010,403 Patented Nov.28, 1961 ice tributed along the railway by hand. In this manner, thespikes are pro-positioned at the desired points along the railway beforethe setting or aligning operation is carried out. With conventionalspikes and tie plates, the spikes are prevented from falling over byengagement with the sides of the spike-receiving aperture in the tieplates. On the other hand, they are not held in the vertical alignmentnecessary for driving, but tend to lean at a substantial angle from thevertical. For an effective automatic spike setting operation therefore,it is essential that the spike setter be capable of automaticallyerecting the prepositioned spikes into the desiredvertical alignmentwith respect to the rail, the tie plate, and the tie before the spikesare set.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is a new and improvedautomatic spike setter for vertically aligning pre-positioned andpartially erected railway spikes with respect to the rail, the tieplate, and the tie with which the spikes are to be associated andthereafter setting the spikes by driving them a relatively shortdistance into the tie.

A more specific object of the invention is a new and improved spikesetter for setting pre-positioned railway spikes which may be operatedby relatively unskilled personnel and which effectively andautomatically aligns the spikes in a vertical direction before they areset.

Another object of the invention is a new and improved selfcontainedspike setter for setting railway spikes and the like in a railway tie,which is operable by a single man and which does not require anyexternal power source or other additional mechanism.

A further object of the invention is a new and improved spike aligningapparatus for a spike setter which provides for accurate verticalalignment of a railway spike at any one of a relatively wide range ofpositions of the spike setter with respect to the tie plate aperturethrough which the spike is driven.

An additional object of the invention is a new and improved spike settercontrol apparatus which inherently and automatically controls the timingof alignment and impacting devices, in the course of a spike settingoperation, to assure accurate vertical driving of railway spikes andlike fastening devices.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shows a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and Whatis now considered to be the best mode for applying those principles.Other embodiments of the invention embodying thesame or equivalentprinciples maybe used and structurakchanges may be made as desired bythose skilled in the art without departing from the present inventionand the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a spike setter constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the spike setter of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a'fragmentary side elevation view, onan enlarged scale, of aportion of the spike setter at an early stage in the spike settingoperation;

H6. 4 is a fragmentary elevation view, similar to FIG.

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the spike positioner and the mountingarrangement therefor;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the main pneumatic operating andcontrol system of the spike setter;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an auxiliary pneumatic operating andcontrol arrangement incorporated in the spike setter;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, on an enlarged scale, of a pneumaticimpacting device incorporated in the spike setter;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation view of the impacting device of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the carriageof the spike setter.

.FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, in side and end elevation views, a spikesetter 20 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention. The spike setter 20 comprises a main frame 21 including apair of longitudinal frame members 22 and 23 afixed to a plurality oftransverse frame members 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 as best illustrated inthe plan view of the frame, FIG. 13. The several frame members 22-29 arepreferably fabricated from tubular or box-shaped structural members andare welded, bolted, or otherwise aifixed to each other to afford a rigidand relatively strong frame.

The frame 21 constitutes an integral part of a machine carriage whichalso includes a pair of outrigger members 31 and 32. The outriggers 31and 32 are preferably mounted on the frame 21 by telescoping theOutriggers into the two frame members 26 and 29, respectively. Theoutriggers are prevented'from sliding out of the frame members bysuitable keys 33 and 34 which extend through aligned holes in the frameand outrigger members.

The carriage of the spike setter 20 also includes a pair of flangedwheels '35 and 36 which are mounted upon the central portion of the mainframe 21 and which are adapted to engage one rail 37 of a railway. Inaddition, a further pair of wheels 38 and 39 are mounted at the ends ofthe outriggers 31 and 32, respectively, in position to engage, thesecond rail 41 of the railway. As best shown in FIGSJl and 2,theengagement of the wheels 35, 36, 38 and. 39 with the rails 37 and 41supports the carriage of the spike setter 20 upon the railway with themain frame 21 thereof disposed in transverse straddling relation to therail 37.

Preferably, the carriage of the spike setter. 20 also includes anadditional pair of relatively large wheels 42 which are normally carriedin a pair of socket members 43 and 44 mounted upon theoutriggers 31 and32 respectively (only one of the wheels 42 is shown in the drawings)".When it is desired to remove the spike setter 20 from the railwaycomprising the rails 37 and 41, the wheels 42 .are removed from theirsockets and are mounted in the frame members 26 and 29in the mannerillustrated by the dash outline '42A in FIG. 2. With the auxiliarywheels 42 in this position, the outriggers may be lifted to tip thespike setter 20 from the rail 37 in a clockwise direction, as seen inFIG. 2, until the spike setter rests upon the auxiliary wheels. Thespike setter may then be rolled away on the auxiliary wheels until it isagain desired to mount it upon a railway.

The spike setterp20 is not restricted to use on the rail 37,

' but may also be employed on the rail 41 without changing the directionof movement during operation. This is accomplished by removing theOutriggers 31 and 32 from the positions on the left hand side of theframe as seen in The outriggers may then be inserted into the framemembers 26 and 29 from the opposite or right hand end of the frame 21 toreverse the alignment with respect tov the frame. In this manner, thespike setter may be arranged for operation. in any desired directionalong either of the two rails 37 and 41 of the railway.

The carriage of the spike setter 20 further includes an auxiliaryvertical frame comprising a pair of inverted U- V members 46 asindicated in FIG. 2. The vertical frame 45, 46 is employed to support aninternal combustion engine 47 and an air compressor 48, the aircompressor 48 being driven from the engine 47 by a suitable drivearrangement such as the drive belt 49.

' The storage tank 51 for the compressor 48 is mounted within the frame45, 46 below the engine and compressor. In some instances, it may bedesirable to afford additional bracing, such as the brace 52 shown inFIG. 1, for the vertical frame 45, 46.

The spike setting mechanism of the spike setter 20 comprises a firstguide structure 53 which is located at the right hand side of the spikesetter as seen in FIGS. 2 and 13. The guide structure 53 includes a pairof mounting blocks 54 and 55 which are welded, bolted or otherwisesecurely mounted upon the frame members 28 and 29 respectively. A pairof guide members 56 and 57 extend between and are supported by themounting blocks 54 and 55'. Furthermore, these guide members 56 and 57project beyond the front frame member 29 by a substantial distance, asshown in FIG. 1. The guide members 56 and 57 are preferably constructedfrom relatively heavy steel pipe, although rods or other structuralshapes may be employed if desired. Any suitable means, such as the bolts58, may be utilized to maintain the guide'rods in fixed location in themounting blocks of the guide structure 53.

A piston support yoke 59 is mounted upon the two guide members 56 and 57intermediate the mounting blocks 54 and 55 as indicated in FIGS. 1 and13. A pair of clamps 6%) may be utilized to maintain the yoke 59 inadjustable fixed position with respect to the two guide members. Theyoke 59 is employed to support a horizontal operating cylinder 61 havinga piston rod 62 which extends forwardly of the cylinder and through anaperture in the mounting block 55. In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, the cylinder 61 is pneumatically actuated by compressed airfrom the storage tank 51 of the compressor system including thecompressor 48, the control system for the cylinder being described indetail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 9.

A second mounting member or yoke 63 is supported upon the guidestructure 53 at the forward or cantilever portion of the guidestructure. Preferably, the mounting member 63 comprises a casting havinga pair of apertures extending therethrough to receive the twoguidemembers 56 and 57. In'this manner, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, themounting member 63 is supported upon the guide members 56 and 57 of theguide structure 53 for sliding movement along two guide members. Theyoke 63 is also provided with a boss 64 which receives the threaded end65 of the piston rod 62'. This construction is illustrated in enlargeddetail in FIG. 3, in which it is seen that a plurality of spacers suchas the nuts 66 may also be threaded onto the piston rod end 65 betweenthe yoke 63 and the mounting block 55 to limit movement of the yoke in ahorizontal direction.

At the forward end of the mounting member or yoke 63, a verticaloperating piston 67 is mounted. The piston 67, which is of thepneumatically actuated type, may be secured to the mounting member 63 byany suitable means affording a substantially rigid mount for the piston.The piston rod 68 of the cylinder'or piston 67 extends downwardlytherefrom and a spike positioner 69 is mounted on and carried by thepiston rod. The spike positioner 69, which is best illustrated in FIGS.6 through 8, comprises a pair of vertical support members 71 and 72joined together by suitable cross braces such as the transverse members73 and 74. In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse member 73 isaflixed to the piston rod 68 by a pair of nuts 75 threaded onto the endof the piston rod and clamping the transverse member 73 between them. I

The spike positioner 69 comprises a pair of guide members 77 and 7-8which are afiixed to the vertical support members 71 and 72respectively. The two guide members 77 and 78 are disposed in spacedrelation to each other and define an elongated longitudinal aperture 79for receiving the shank of a railway spike. Each of the two guidemembers 77 and 78 is of substantially inverted L-shaped configuration,as indicated in FIG. 8. Furthermore, and as shown in FIG. 7, the forwardends 81 and 82 of the guide members 77 and 78, respectively, are taperedto afford a relatively wide throat for engaging a spike and guiding itinto the elongated aperture 79.

The spike positioner 69, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 68, alsoincludes a gripper device for releasably gripping the shank of' arailway spike. In this instance, the gripper device is both magnetic andmechanical in nature. The gripper comprises a permanent magnet 83 whichis mounted upon the guide member. 77 by suitable means such as a pair ofbolts 8'4. The gripper further includes a leaf spring 85 mounted uponthe guide member 78 as by the bolts 86. The spring 85 is substantially Zshaped in configuration and extends outwardly from the flange 87 of theguide member 78 in a direction substantially transverse to the shankreceiving aperture 79. A portion 88 of the spring 85, however, extendsalong the aperture 79 in substantially parallel relation to theadjoining portion of the guide member 77. Furthermore, and as indicatedin FIG. 7, the spring 83 is located directly opposite the permanentmagnet 83. The end portion 89 of the spring 85 is preferably flared backtoward the guide member 7-8.

As best indicated in FIG. 13, a second guide structure 93, which issubstantially similar to the abovedescribed guide structure 53, ismounted upon the two frame members 28 and 29. The guide structure 93,however, is located on the opposite side of the rail 37 straddled by theframe 21 from the guide structure 53.

The guide structure 93 comprises a pair of mounting blocks 94 and 95which are mounted upon the frame members 28 and 29 respectively. Themounting blocks 94 and 95 support a pair of guide members which aresubstantially similar to the guide members 56 and 57; only the one guidemember 96 is shown in the drawings (see FIG. 13). A first mountingmember or yoke 99 is mounted upon the guide members and is locatedintermediate the two frame members 28 and 29. The yoke 99 is utilized tosupport a pneumatically actuated piston substantially similar to thepiston 61 described hereinabove.

At the forward or cantilever ends of the guide members such as the guidemember 96, there is mounted a slidable yoke 193 which corresponds to thepreviously described mounting member or yoke 63. As before, the mountingmember 103 is connected to the piston rod of the horizontal operatingpiston included in this portion of the spike setter. The yoke 103supports a vertical operating cylinder or piston 107 from which there issuspended a second spike positioner 109. The spike positioner 169 issubstantially similar in'construction to the spike positioner 69 andtherefore need not be described in detail.

The mounting member or yoke 63 is also employed to support an impactingdevice 111, in addition to the spike positioner 69 and its associatedoperating cylinder 67. The impacting device 111 includes a pneumaticallyoperated actuating piston or cylinder 112 which is mounted upon avertical frame 113, the frame 113 in turn being affixed to the yoke 63by suitable means including the stud 114 and the nut or fastener 115.The cylinder 112 is suspended from the top member 116 of the frame 113by suitable means'such as a stud 117 which is threaded into the upperportion of the cylinder 112 and is maintained in a desired verticalposition with respect to the frame member 116 by a nut 118 or the ofthese guide blocks is provided with a vertical aperture which extendstherethrough and which is employed to guide a vertically movable guidemember. Thus, and as best indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the impactingdevice 111 includes a pair of vertical guide rods 122 and 123 whichextend through apertures in the guide blocks 119 and 121 respectively.The lower ends of the two guide rods 122 and 123 are affixed to a hammerhead 12 4. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the hammerhead 124 is not a precision device in the sense of a member adapted toengage a spike head or other element in accurate alignment. Rather, thehammer head 124 comprises simply a large heavy block of metal having alength L which is relatively large as compared to the size of the head126 of a railway spike (see FIG. 11). Preferably, the length L of thehammerhead or weight 124 is approximately equal in length to the overall effective length D of the gripping zone defined by thetwo gripperdevices '85 and 83 in the spike positioner 69 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). Thisrelationship between the lengths L and D is of substantial importance incompensating for possible hurried or careless operation of the spikesetter, as explained more fully hereinafter.

A second impacting device 131, which is substantially similar to theimpacting device 111, is mounted upon the yoke 103 on the left hand sideof the machine as seen in FIG. 2. The impacting device 131 comprises apneumatically actuated cylinder or piston 132 which is mounted upon aframe 133, the frame 133 being substantially similar to the frame 113 ofthe previously-described impacting device 111. Thus, the cylinder 132may be suspended from an upper frame member 136 by suitable means suchas the stud 137 and the nut 138 threaded thereon. A relatively large andheavy hammerhead or Weight 134 is suspended from the piston rod of theair cylinder 132 in substantially the same manner as the weight 124 ismounted upon the piston rod 127 of the first-described cylinder 112 (seeFIG. 9).

FIG. 9 shows, in schematic form, the principal pneumatic operatingcircuits and control devices for the spike setter 20. In thisconnection, it should be noted that the individual air conduits or hoseshave been omitted from the other figures of the drawings for the purposeof claritying the illustration of mechanical structures. As indicated inFIG. 9, the control system of the spike setter includes a main conduit141, which is connected to the air tank 51 of the compressor 48. The airconduit 41 is connected to one port 142 of a manually operatedtwoposition four-connection control valve 143. A second port 144 of themain control valve 143 is connected to a conduit 145. A third port 146of the control valve is open to the atmosphere and thus constitutes anexhaust port, whereas the fourth port 147 of the valve is connected to aconduit 148.

The valve port 144 of the main control valve 143 is connected, by meansof the conduit 145, to the lower ends of each of the two impactingcylinders 112 and 132. Conduit also connects this valve port to a pilotdevice 149 which forms a part of an air operatedtwo-positionthree-connection time delay valve 159. Moreover, the conduit 14-5 may beconnected to one port of an air cylinder 152 which may be utilized tooperate a brake 153. The brake 153 may engage one of the spike setterwheels, such a the wheel 36.'

The conduit 148, on the other hand, connects the valve port 147 of themain control valve to the left hand end of each of the horizontaloperating cylinders 61 and 101. In this connection, it should be notedthat the pneumatic cylinders 61, 101, 112 and 132 are shown in F1G. 9 inthe same relative positions as in FIG. 1. Conduit 148 also connects thevalve port 147 to the upper end of the brake cylinder 152 and to thetime sequence head 154 of a second air operated two-positionthree-connection time delay valve 155. I

The high pressure air line 141 leading from the air tank 51 is alsoconnected to a normally closed port 156 of the time delay valve 150. Asecond port 157 of this valve is connected to the right hand side ofeach of the horizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101. The third port158 of the valve is normally open to the atmosphere. In the normalposition of the valve 150, the ports 157 and 158 are connected to eachother, thereby afiording an exhaust opening for the right hand side ofeach of the cylinders 61 and 101.

In addition, the conduit 141 is connected to a normally closed port 159in the time delay valve 155. A second port 161 of this valve isconnected to the upper end of each of the two vertical operatingcylinders 112 and 132. When the valve is in its normal or unactuatedposition as shown in FIG. 9, the port 161 thereof is connected to anexhaust port 162, thereby opening the upper ends of each of thesecylinders to the atmosphere.

The entire operation of the control system illustrated in FIG. 9 iscontrolled manually by means of the master control valve 143. With thecontrol valve 143 in the position shown in FIG. 9, air is applied, underpressure, to the lower portion of the brake cylinder 152, the upperportion of the cylinder being vented to the atmosphere. Consequently,the brake is released and the spike setting machine is free to rollalong the railway. Air under pressure is also applied to :the lowerportions or ports of the vertical operating cylinders 112 and 132, theupper portions of these cylinders being vented to the atmosphere throughthe valve 155. Consequently, the pistons are 'maintained in the positionshown in FIG. 9 and the hammerheads or weights 124 and 134 aremaintained in an elevated or inactive position. Moreover, the airpressure applied to the pilot device 149 through the conduit 145maintains the valve 150 in its second or actuated position. Under theseconditions, the inlet air conduit 141 is connected through the valve 150to the right hand end of each of the horizontal operating cylinders 61and 101. Moreover, the left hand end of each of these cylinders isvented to the atmosphere through the ports 146 and .147 of the mastercontrol valve 143. Consequently, the horizontal operating cylinders 61and 101 are maintained in the illustrated position, holding the spikepositioners of the spike setting machine at the left hand end of theirrange of travel (see FIG.1).

When the master control valve 143 is actuated to its not necessary forthe operator physically to stop the rolling movement of the spikesetter.

A second immediate operation effected by the change in the mastercontrol valve setting is the actuation of the horizontal; operatingcylinders 61 and 101. As a consequence of the actuation of the mastercontrol valve, air is introduced under pressure into the left hand endof each of the double acting cylinders 61 and 101. At the same time, therelease of air pressure on the actuating device 149 of the valve 150permits that valve to return to its normal or unactuated operatingcondition, venting the right hand end of each of thehon'zontal pistons61 and 101 to the atmosphere. Accordingly, the spike positioners whichare mechanically connected to the cylinders 61 and 101 are moved to theright as seen in FIGS. 1 and9.

The third operation effected by the change in operating condition of themaster control valve 143 relates to the impacting devices, or hammerpistons 112 and 132.

' The change in the master control valve applies air under pressure tothe pilot device 154 and consequently drives the time delay valve towardits alternate operating position. The change in the valve 155 does nottake time interval, preferably of the order of one second. Consequently,the change in operating conditions for the cylinders 112 and 132 doesnottake place at the same time as the change in operating conditions forthe cylinders 61 and 101. Rather, the hammer cylinders 112 and 132 areactuated after actuation of the horizontal cylinders has been completed.

Actuation of the valve to its alternate operating condition connects thehigh pressure air line 141, through the valve 155, to the upper end ofeach of the impacting device cylinders 112 and 132. The lower end ofeach of these cylinders, on the other hand, is vented to the atmospherethrough the master control valve 143. Consequently, the pistons 112 and132 are driven downwardly thereby driving the hammerheads or weights 124and 134 in an impacting stroke to set a pair of railway spikes held bythe spike positioners of the spike setter 20, as described in detailhereinafter.

FIG. 10 affords a schematic diagram of the control arrangement utilizedin raising and lowering the spike positioners 69 and 109 of the spikesetter 20. The control arrangement comprises a three-positionfour-connection auxiliary control valve 163, which is shown in FIG. 10in its intermediate or neutral position. The valve includes an inletport 164, a pair of outlet ports and 166, and a vent or exhaust port167. In the neutral position, as illustrated, all of these ports areclosed with the inlet port 164 being connected to the main air line 141.One of the two outlet ports, port 165, is connected to the top of eachof the two vertical operating cylinders 67 and 107. The remaining outletport 166 is connected to the bottom of each of the two verticaloperating cylinders.

When the valve 163 is actuated to the right, as seen in FIG. 10, the topof each of the two cylinders 67 and 107 is connected to the air line 141through the ports 164 and 165. At the same time, the bottom of each ofthe cylinders is vented to the atmosphere through the valve ports 166and 167. Consequently, under the conditions, the pistons are drivendownwardly, thereby lowering the two spike positioners 69 and 109 totheir operative position as illustrated in the several figures of thedrawings and particularly in FIG. 2. Once the positioners have beenlowered, the valve may be returned to its normal or intermediateposition, closing off the several ports of the valve. ,When this is donethe positioners remain in their lowered position, the Weight of thepositioners being suificient to retainthem in the desired operatingposition.

To raise the spike positioners 69 and 109, the control valve 163 isactuated to the left, as seen in FIG. 10. When this is done, the highpressure air line 141 is connected to the bottom of each of the verticalpistons 67 and 107 and the top of each of the pistons is vented totheatmosphere. Accordingly, the pistons are driven upwardly and the twospike positioners are raised to a, location above the rail 37, theraised position for the positioner 69 being indicated by the dashoutline 69A in FIG. 5.

The mounting of the control valves 143 and 163 upon the spike setter isbest illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 13. As shown therein, a pair of verticalsupport members 168 and 169 are aflixed to the transverse frame member29 at locations approximately aligned with the two frame members 22 and23.v A center vertical support member 171 is mounted upon the framemembers 29 at approximately the center of the frame 21. A mounting plateor bracket 172 (see FIG. 1) is affixed to a transverse frame member 175,which is removably mounted upon the two vertical frame members 168 and171. The bracket 172 affords a support for the main control valve 143and for the auxiliary control valve-163. The manual actuating handlesfor the two valves 143 and 163 are indicated by the reference numerals173 and 174 respectively.

The vertical support posts or frame members 168, 169 and 171 also afforda convenient support for the means employed to move the spike setter 20along the railway. A relatively short vertical post 176 is mounted uponthe transverse frame member 175 and a handle 177 is aifixed thereto. Thehandle 177 projects outwardly of the spike setter in a horizontaldirection and may be conveniently grasped by the operator of the spikesetter to propel the machine along a railway track. The support post 176for the handle 177 is removably mounted on the transverse frame member175 in order that the post and handle may be removed from the transverseframe member, rotated through an angle of 180, and remounted at theopposite end of the frame member 175 with the handle projecting to theleft, as seen in FIG. 2, rather than the right. Moreover, the framemember 175 is removably affixed to the two posts 168 and 171 to permitremoval of the frame member from the two posts and thus make it possibleto re-mount this frame member at the opposite side of the machine inbridging relation to the posts 169 and 171. In this manner, with thechange in outrigger location as described hereinabove, the spike setter20 may be conveniently conditioned for operation in any direction alongeither rail of the railway.

In operation of the spike setter 20, the first essential step is, ofcourse, the mounting of the spike setter upon the two rails of therailway, such as the rails 37 and 41. When the spike setter is properlylocated on the railway, as indicated in FIG. 2, the frame 21 is disposedin straddling relation to the rail 37 and most of the weight of thespike setter is supported upon the two flanged wheels 35 and 36. TheOutriggers and the wheels 38 and 39 afiord a secondmy support for thespike setter and are principally useful in balancing the spike setterupon the railway. Once the spike setter is properly mounted on therails, of course, the wheels 42 are removed from their operativeposition, indicated by dash outline 42A in FIG. 2, and are deposited inthe sockets 43 and 44 so that they will not interfere with operation ofthe machine.

The spike setter 20 is preceded, in its normal operation, by one or moreworkers who deposit individual railway spikes or other similar fastenersin the tie plates, such as the tie plate 178, upon which the rail 37rests. These workers do not drive the spikes into the ties, such as thetie 179, to any extent. Rather, they simply position the spikes in thespike-receiving apertures of the tie plates and leave them in apartially erected or leaning position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Asis apparent from these two figures, the spikes may lean toward the rail37 or away from the rail; they may also lean at a substantial angle fromthe vertical in a direction parallel to the rail. The spikes areprevented from falling over by engagement with the walls of the spikereceiving apertures in the tie plates 178.

To operate the spike setter 20, it is first necessary for the operatorto actuate the auxiliary control valve 163 to the right, as seen in FIG.10, to apply air under pressure to the two vertical operating cylinders67 and 107, thereby lowering the spike positioners 69 and 199 to theirnormal operative positions as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1-5. Oncethis is done, the operator proceeds to push the spike setter 20 alongthe railway in the direction indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 by the arrow181.

As the spike setter 20 moves along the rail 37, one of the spikes 125 isengaged by one of the flared forward portions 81 and 82 of the guidemembers 77 and 78 of the spike positioner 69 (see FIG. 7). Of course,the spike positioner 109 at the opposite side of the machine similarlyengages the spike on that side of the rail 37 (see FIG. 2). As theforward motion of the spike setter continues in the direction indicatedby the arrow 181, the spike 125 is deflected into the elongated centralaperture 79 of the spike positioner and consequently is erected in adirection transverse to the rail 37. At the same time, however,frictional engagement between the spike and the guide members 77 and 78tends to cause the spike 125to lean forwardly as indicated in FIGURES land 3.

The continuing forward movement of the spike setter 26 brings the spike125 into the gripping zone D afiorded by the spring and the permanentmagnet 83 of the I spike positioner 69. In this zone D, the magnet andthe spring grip the spike, but only to a limited extent. That is, thegripping force exerted by the spring in the magnet is not great enoughto pull the spike from the aperture 182 in the tie plate 178. Thiscondition of operation is illustrated in FIG. 3, which shows the spikeleaning forwardly and engaged by the spring 85 in the gripping zone ofthe spike positioner 69. Once the spike has been brought to the positionshown in FIG. 3, the operator of the spike setter 20 manually actuatesthe main control valve 143, by means of the handle 173, moving thecontrol valve to its actuated oroperative position. As soon as thisaccomplished, the brake 153 is engaged with the wheel 36 and interruptsthe forward movement of the spike setter. At the same time, the twohorizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101 are actuated by compressed airapplied to the left hand ends thereof (see FIG. 9), moving the cylinderpistons to the right as seen in each of FIGS. 1, 3 and 9. As aconsequence, the yoke 63, which is secured to the piston rod 62, ismoved to the right along the two guide members 56 and 57 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 4.

The relative movement of the yoke 63 with respect to the spike settercarriage, from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4, also moves thespike positioner 69 in the same direction, since the spike positioner issuspended from the yoke 63. Thus, the spike positioner is moved in adirection opposite the direction of movement of the spike setter alongthe rail 37 to erect the spike 125 in a direction substantially parallelto the rail. In this manner, the forward lean of the spike iseffectively corrected and the spike is accurately vertically aligned asshown in FIG. 4. The amount of horizontal movement of the spikepositioner 69 is determined primarily by the size of the tie plateaperture 182 and the dimensions of the spike 125, which determine theamount by which the spike 125 departs from the vertical. Consequently,it may be necessary to adjust the travel of the piston rod 62 to alimited extent for a given type of tie pad and a particular type ofspike. This is accomplished by means of the space nuts 66, but isnecessary only at the beginning of a given spike setting operation.

Only an extremely short time is required for the pneumatic operatingmechanism of the spike setter to halt the forward movement of the spikesetter and to move the spike positioners 69 and 109 horizontally tocomplete the vertical alignment of the spikes engaged'thereby. Duringthis time interval, the impacting devices comprising the air cylinders112 and 132 are not actuated, since the admission of air into the upperportions of these cylinders is delayed by the time delay valve'155.Subsequently, however, the time delay valve is actuated to admit airunder pressure into the two impacting device pistons, driving theweights 124 and 134 downwardly into contact with the spikes engaged bythe positioners 69 and 109. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 5, inwhich the hammer-head or weight 124 is shown in impacting engagementwith the spike 125. Consequently, the spikes are driven a short distanceinto the tie 179 and become firmly anchored therein.

Once the two impacting devices 111 and 131 have co-mpleted theirimpacting stroke, the operator of the spike setter again actuates themain control valve 143, returning the valve to its normal position asshown in FIG. 9. As indicated hereinabove, this actuation of the maincontrol valve causes air under pressure to be introduced into the lowerportions of the two impacting device'cylinders 112 and 132, lifting thehammer-heads or weights 124 and 134 clear of the spikes. At the sametime, the connections to the brake operating cylinder 152 are reversed,thereby releasing the brake and permitting the operator to continueforward movement of the spike setter. Moreover, the horizontal operatingcylinders 61 and 101 are actuated, through the time delay valve 156,

11 V to return the spike positioners 69 and 109 to their normal advancedposition after the impacting weights 124 and 134 have been lifted. Ofcourse, the setting impact delivered by the impacting devices 111 and131 must drive the spikes into the tie 179 to anextent sufficient toprevent the relatively light gripping force or drag exerted on thespikes by the spike positioners from again deflecting the spikes fromtheir desired vertical alignment.

In operation of the spike setter 20, it is not necessary for theoperator to achieve any great accuracy in locating spikes within thegripping zone D of the spike positioners such as the positioner 69.Rather, it is sufficient that the operator make sure that the spikes aresomewhere within the zone D, which is preferably several inches inlength. It is for this reason that the impacting weights such as theweight 124 are made relatively long, in a direction parallel to the rail37, and thus parallel to the spike positioners 69 and 109. As long asthe spike is somewhere within the gripping zone D, it may be engaged andimpacted by the weight 124 and thus set in the desired manner. Thisrelationship between the length of the weight 124 and the gripping zoneD is best seen in FIG. 5, in which the weight is shown in its lowered orimpacting position. 4

It should be noted that the spike positioner 69 does not require, in allinstances, both the magnetic gripping device 83 andthe spring retaineror gripper 85. In many instances, one or the other of these devices maybe eliminated entirely. Thus, if the magnet 83 is omitted from the spikepositioner 69 (see FIG. 7) the gripping portion 88 of the spring 85usually affords an adequate gripping force for erecting the spike in adirection longitudinal to the rail being anchored. By the same token, inmany instances a single magnetic gripping device is adequate for thisportion of the apparatus. This is particularly understandable in view ofthe fact that the gripping force required is only suflicient to overcomethe weight of the spike and to move it to an erect position from aleaning position. It is not necessary to lift the spike or to move itagainst any substantial external resistance.

As the spike setter 20 movesalong the rail, setting spikes as describedhereinabove, the machine may encounter a rail connector, a switch, orother device located in the path of movement of the spike positioners 69and 109. When this occurs, the operator simply actuates the auxiliarycontrol valve 163 to raise the spike positioners in the manner describedhereinabove in connection with FIG; 10. As soon as the obstacle iscleared, the valve 163 is again actuated to lower the spike positionersand is returned to its normal neutral position for continuing operationof the spike setter.

It is thus seen that the spike setter 20 is highly automatic in'itsoperation and is eifective to align pro-positioned spikes, in a verticaldirection, and to set the spikes a short distance into a tie. As pointedout hereinabove,

' the machine may be operated by relatively unskilled personnel, sinceit does not require accurate alignment of the machine with respect tothe pro-positioned spikes in order to carry out the desired aligning andsetting functions. The machine is operable by a single worker and isself contained, thereby eliminating any requirement for a separatecompressor, power source, or other auxiliary mechanism. As notedhereinabove, a number of the principal advantages of the machine areachieved by automatically controlling the time relationship of operationfollowing claims.

I claim:

1". A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, aplurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame inposition to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriagefor movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail: spike positioner means for releasablyengaging the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spikepositioner below said frame and in position to engage pre-positionedpartially erected spikes when the carriage is moved longitudinally ofsaid rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a directiontransverse to said rail; means for moving said spike positionershorizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite saidgiven direction, to erect spikes engaged by said positioner in adirection longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted onsaid frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spikes in saidpositioner.

2. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, aplurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on 'said framein position to engage the rails of a railway and to support saidcarriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail; a spike positioner having alongitudinal aperture for receiving the shank of a railway spike and agripper device for releasably gripping the shank of a railway spike;means for mounting said spike positioner below said frame alongside therail straddled by said frame and in position to engage and grip apre-positioned partially erected spike as said carriage is movedlongitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikein a direction transverse to said rail; means for moving said spikepositioner horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a directionopposite said given direction to erect a spike engaged by saidpositioner in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impactingmeans, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to theerected spike.

3. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, aplurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame inposition to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriagefor movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail; a pair of spike positioners eachcomprising a pair of spaced guide members defining a longitudinalaperture for receiving the shank of a railway spike and each including agripper device mounted on one of said guide members for releasablygripping the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spikepositioners below said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled bysaid frame and in position to engage and grip pre-positioned partiallyerected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail ina given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse tosaid rail;,means for moving said spike positioners horizontally relativeto said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, toerect spikes engaged by said positioners in a direction longitudinal ofsaid rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying asetting impact to the erected spikes in said positioners. i

4. A spike setter for'setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising a carriage including a frame,a'plurality of, wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said framein position to engage the rail of a railway and to support said carriagefor movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail; a pair of spike positioners eachcomprising a pair of spaced guide members defining a longitudinalaperture for receiving the shank of a railway spike and each including agripper device comprising spring means mounted on one of said guidemembers and extending toward the other of said guide members forreleasably gripping the shank of a railway spike; means for mountingsaid spike positioners below said frame on opposite sides of the railstraddled by said frame and in position to engage and grippre-positioned partially erected spikes as said carriage is movedlongitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect saidspikes in a direction transverse to said rail; means for moving saidspike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, and in adirection opposite said given direction, to erect spikes engaged by saidpositioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impactingmeans, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to theerected spikes in said positioners.

5. A spike setter for setting pro-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, aplurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame inposition to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriagefor movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail; a pair of horizontal guide members,mounted on said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by saidframe; a pair of fluid pressure actuated pistons mounted on said framein individual alignment with respective ones of said guide members; apair of mounting members individually supported on respective ones ofsaid horizontal guide members for movement therealong and individuallymechanically connected to said pistons; a pair of spike positioners,each having a longitudinal aperture for receiving the shank of a railwayspike and a gripper device for releasably gripping the shank of arailway spike; means for mounting said spike positioners on respectiveones of said mounting members with said positioners disposed below saidframe on opposite sides of the rail straddled by said frame and inposition to engage and grip pre-positioned partially erected spikes assaid carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given directionand to erect said spikes in a direction transverse to said rail; meansfor applying fluid under pressure to said pistons to move said spikepositioners horizontally relative to said carriage, in a directionopposite said given direction, to erect spikes engaged by saidpositioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impactingmeans, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to theerected spikes in said positioners.

6. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, aplurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame inpostion to en gage the rails of a railway and to support said carriagefor movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail; a pair of horizontal guide members,mounted on said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by saidframe; a pair of fluid pressure actuated pistons mounted on said framein individual alignment with respective ones of said guide members; apair of mounting members individually mounted on respective ones of saidhorizontal guide members for movement therealong and individuallymechanically connected to said pistons; a pair of spike positioners forreleasably engaging the shanks of a pair of railway spikes; means formounting said spike positioners on respective ones of said mountingmembers and disposed below said frame on opposite sides of the railstraddled by saidf rame in position to engage pro-positioned partiallyerected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail ina given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse tosaid rail; means for applying fluid under pressure to said pistons tomove said spike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, andin a direction opposite said given direction to erect spikes engaged bysaid positioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; impactingmeans, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to theerected spikes in said positioners, said impacting means comprising apair of fluid pressure actuated hammers; and control means forautomatically applying fluid under pressure to said hammers inpredetermined time relation to the application of fluid to said pistons.

7. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, aplurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame inposition to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriagefor movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail; a pair of spike positioners forreleasably engaging the shank of a railway spike; means for mountingsaid spike positioners on said frame on opposite sides of the railstraddled by said frame and in position to engage pre-positionedpartially erected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally ofsaid rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a directiontransverse to said rail, said means comprising a pair of fluid pressureactuated pistons supported on said frame; means for applying fluid underpressure to said pistons to elevate said positioners to an inactiveposition above said rail to clear switches, rail joints, and the like;means for moving said spike positioners horizontally relative to saidcarriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, to erectspikes engaged by said positioners in a direction longitudinal of saidrail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a settingimpact to the erected spikes in said positioners.

8. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railwayspikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, aplurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame inposition to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriagefor movement along the railway with said main frame disposed instraddling relation to one rail; a horizontal guide structure, mountedon said frame and extending parallel to the rail straddled by saidframe; a pneumatic piston mounted on said frame in alignment with saidguide structure; a mounting member supported on said horizontal guidestructure for movement therealong and mechanically connected to saidpiston; a spike positioner, for releasably engaging the shank of arailway spike, mounted on said mounting member and disposed below saidframe alongside the rail straddled by said frame in position to engage apre-positioned partially erected spike as said carriage is movedlongitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikein a direction transverse to said rail; a compressor mounted on saidframe; means for applying compressed air from said compressor to saidpiston to move said spike positioner horizontally relative to saidcarriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, to erect aspike engaged by said positioner in a direction longitudinal of saidrail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a settingimpact to an erected spike in said positioner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,268,736 Lightell June 4, 1918 1,448,264 Doak Mar. 13, 1923 1,916,708Zavatkay July 4, 1933 2,018,129 Jackson Oct. 22, 1935 2,799,230 FenschJuly 16, 1957 2,884,867 Godfrey May 5, 1959 2,897,782 Kennedy Aug. 4,1959 2,910,010 Godfrey et 'al Oct. 27, 1959 2,925,048 McWilliams et a1Feb. 16, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,154,699 France Nov. 12, 1957 OTHERREFERENCES Railway Track and Structure, September 1957, pages 22, 23.

